Closure construction for refrigerator cabinets



Jun 10, 1952 H. w. WHITMORE 2,599,732

CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR REFRIGERATOR CABINETS Filed June 28, 1948 INVENTOR.

HARLAND W. WHI TMORE ATTORNEYS Patented June 10, 1952 GLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR REFRIG- ERATOR CABINETS Harland W. Whitmore, Kenosha, Wis., assignor to Motor Products Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of New York Application June 28, 1948, Serial No. 35,596

2 Claims. 1

The invention relates to refrigerator cabinets of that type which open at the top, and the invention has more particular reference to the construction of the closure means therefor.

It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which provides ready access to all portions of the storage chamber within the cabinet and, at the same time, forms effective thermal insulation.

To this end the invention consists in the corn struction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section through the upper portion of a refrigerator cabinet provided with my improved closure means;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view.

The cabinet A is preferably of cylindrical form having avertical axis and comprises an outer casing member A and an inner concentric casing member A The latter is provided with suitable refrigerating means, such as a helical expansion coil B surrounding and secured thereto. The space between the outer and inner casings is filled with suitable thermal insulating material C, which extends upward to near the top of the casing members. I A short distance below the top, the easing members A and A are provided with inward projections, preferably beads A which form supporting ledges for an annular substantially rigid insulator member D. This, when in position, is secured to the casing members by mastic D' to form a sealed joint. Secured to the outer casing member A' is a metallic ring E of angle cross-section having a vertical wall E and horizontal wall E which latter extends over into alignment with the inner casing member A and has a downwardly extending flange E The portion E is secured to the casing A and to the member E by screws F and a molding F conceals the fastening means. The depending flange E is spaced from the upper end of the inner casing A so as to avoid any metallic connection therebetween. Extending between these members and secured thereto is an annular member G formed of rubber, or rubber-like material. having a vertically extending portion G and a horizontal outwardly extending flange G which latter overlaps the top portion E of the member E. The flange (i has a horizontal slit extending from its inner side part way through the length thereof to receive a flange H of a metallic liner member H. These members are secured to each other and to the cabinet by screws I, thus forming a substantially hollow box cross-section above the tops of the casing members A and A Also the portion G above the slit in the flange Gr forms a gasket or resilient seat for the closure lid as hereinafter described.

The closure is formed of a pair of complementary semi-circular lid members J, each of which has an upper metallic member J, a lower metallic member J and a semi-circular pad J therebetween formed of rigid thermal insulating material. The members J and J 2 have the peripheral portions thereof fashioned to contact with each other and to be secured by a return bent flange J The adjacent portions of the lids are straight extending diametrically across the cabinet being formed by overlapping flanges J and J on the metallic members J and J. K is a hinge for comiecting the lids J, being of the piano hinge type with the pivot pin K located slightly above the top of the lids and with depending spaced securing flanges K These flanges are secured to the lid members by screws K which extend through the overlapping flanges J and J and also preferably into the insulator slab J For positioning and retaining the lids upon. the cabinet, angle bracket members L are secured at diametrically opposite points to the depending portions H of the member Hr One flange L of each angle member extends radially inward from the securing flange L and is also extended vertically above said securing flange to engage the space between the flanges K of the hinge member. Thus the pair of lids will be held concentric with the cylindrical cabinet. The peripheral portions being normally seated upon the gasket G Either one of the lids may be opened by swinging it upward and over to rest upon the other lid thereby opening one-half of the area at th top of the cabinet. When the first lid is re-seated, the companion lid can be lifted and turned over in the same manner to open the other half of the cabinet. Also, if desired, both lids may be detached by lifting them off from the flanges L.

To facilitate assembly of the structur the members G and H are transversely split so that the horizontal flange H may be engaged with the slit in the portion G by relative rotation of these members. After engagement the transverse slits in the members G and H may be located in different vertical planes, so that each member overlaps the slit in the other member. The construc. tion as above described is particularly useful in bottle holding refrigerator cabinets as it provides easy access to all portions of the storage chamber. Also, where there is a plurality of tiers ofbottles within the cabinet with the upper tiers supported by folding shelves, the lids may be arranged with their hinges in vertical alignment with the hinges for the shelves, thus giving access to both tiers.

Whatzli claim; as xrny; invention is:

1. Thezcombination with a topopening reirig; erator cabinet having spaced inner and outer cylindrical metallic walls and thermal insulating material therebetween, of an, annular metallic cap of inverted channel cross-section aboyesaitt wall, the outer flange of said channel being connected to the outer wall of said cabinet the inner flange being alignedwith, butrspaoedz from; said inner cabinet wall, an annular member formed of resilient material of.- low thermal con.- ductivity connected to and bridging the space between the inner walls of said cabinet-and cap. said resilient annular'member being or" angie cross; section with, the: horizontal flange thereof overlapping said cap, an annular metallic lining for; saidl resilient annular member being also of angle; cross-section with the horizontal flange thereof engaging aslit-in the horizontal flange extending: upward; between. the. depending portions on said hinge for positioning said lids on said; cabinet.

2.. A, cabinet with: a top opening; refrigerating cabinet, having; spaced inner and outer cylindrical metallic: walls: and thermal insulating material therebetween, of an annular metallic cap-of irrverted. channelcrcssr-section above said walls, the

. outer? flange of? said. channel being connected to the-outer: walLofr thecabinet and theinner flange of? the; channel; being; aligned with: but spaced from saidiinnercabinet wall, an annular member: formed; of resilient material of low thermal conductivity and being of angle cross-section, the vertical flange of said resilient member being connected to and bridging the space between the in" her flange of said cap and inner wall of said cabinet and the horizontal flange of said resilient member overlapping and resting upon the top oi'said: metallic cap, an, annular; metallic lining for said resilient; annular member being also of angle cross-section and having the horizontal flange thereof engaging a slit in the horizontal flange. of said. resilient member, and a pair of semi-circular lids forming a closure for the cabinet, each of said lids having spaced top and bottom. metallic members with thermal insulating material therebetween and with the marginal portionsthereof inthe same plane and connected to. each cther, the adjacent straight edge portions of said semi-circular lid members being formed by overlapping flanges of said top and bottom members, a hinge for connecting said lid members having its pivot axis above saidtop member and having, depending flanges secured respectively to; the straight edge portions, of the lid members: being slightly spaced from each other, andrbracket members secured to diametricallyopposite sides cf'said metallic lining having flange portions extending upward between the spaced members of'the hinge and locatin said lids upon said cabinet.

HARLAND W. XIVHITM'QRLL.

REFERENCES The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,689,933 Replogle 1- Oct, 30,1923 1,823,517 Vandegrift Sept. 15,1931 1,846,039 1 Pratt et al. Feb. 23,, 1932 2,031,701 Forsthoefel. Feb. 25, 1 936 2,059,593 Loranger' NOV. 3,. 1,936 2,329,647 Philipp Sept. 14-, 19,43 2;337,3-16 Dodge Dec. 21-, 1M3 2,435,981. Rawson Feb..17; 1948 2,464,526 Palmer Mar-. 15, 1949 $513,678; Ellsworth 1- Aug. 1 5, 1950 

